Hike and sail Tasmania’s stunning east coast in style: no boots required
Refuelling on champagne and oysters, passengers aboard a 23-metre ketch head for the hills on the Australian island state’s east coast for a three-day adventure exploring trails and cooling off in pristine waters
The 23-metre ketch Lady Eugenie is moored just off the east coast of Australia’s island state of Tasmania, where guides Adrien Butler, Maddy Davies and passengers hop aboard for a three-day Wineglass Bay sail-hike trip with Tasmanian Walking.
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Back on board, skipper Colin Brookes and mate Mitch Antilla have laid out platters of Tasmanian cheeses, cold beer and a selection of Tasmanian wines, considered among Australia’s best (notably pinot noir and pinot gris).
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Passengers Leigh and Lily Robinson, the guides and I putter ashore in the tender and set off up Bear Hill, a steep scramble atop granite boulders. We emerge from the bush after 90 minutes onto Crockett’s Beach for a late swim.
The water here is bathtub clear, and only waist-deep almost to where the boat is anchored. Meanwhile, Antilla has set a table and chairs in the sand, and we’re treated to plump creamy Bruny Island (Tasmania) oysters, champagne, dips, wine, beer, cider and soft drinks – all before we’ve dried off.
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Robinson, Davies and I embark on the four-hour return hike to the 579-metre peak of Mt Graham – a gentle ascent through a forest of giant gums and bottlebrushes dotted with orange fungi and rosy hyacinth orchids.
Named for its shape, and protected from most wind directions, its water is a strangely opaque yet brilliant blue, and its northern rim is hemmed in by four pink granite mountain peaks.
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Stopping at Darlington Vineyard – perched just above the east coast holiday hamlet of Orford – we meet owner Paul Stranan and sample his pinot gris, riesling, and a tart, excellent pinot noir.
Packing up my gear before we’re dropped back at our hotels, it occurs to me that a winning feature of a hiking and sailing trip is the footwear: no heavy boots, just light hiking shoes, and bare feet for the boat. Three days of sandy hiking socks is a price we’ve all been happy to pay.
Getting there:
Qantas flies from Hong Kong to Hobart (14 to 15 hours) via Melbourne for about A$800 (US$600) return. The writer was a guest of Tasmanian Walking Company (taswalkingco.com.au). A$3,200/A$4,300 per person for a twin share (four-day/six-day itinerary).